The Mission
At Saratoga Rowing Association (SRA), we don’t just win races; we build community. Our mission is to strengthen our community by promoting the sport and culture of rowing, fostering excellence and integrity in our athletes, and growing Saratoga as a premier rowing destination.
 
The Vision: Building the "Third Place"
We are looking for a visionary leader to serve as our Executive Director—the individual tasked with bringing this mission to life through grit, innovation, and a deep commitment to the "Third Place" philosophy.
Beyond home and beyond school or work, SRA is a sanctuary where hundreds of families find shared values, camaraderie, a place of belonging, and a pursuit of excellence. As Executive Director, you are the guardian of this culture.

• You are the Host: You ensure that for every new family, their first year is transformative. You make them feel not just "signed up," but truly invited into a lifelong community.

• You are the Bridge: You connect the 8-year-old taking their first stroke to the elite athlete training for the Olympics, and the 80-year-old building new friendships and memories. You ensure that "Joy in Excellence" is a language spoken—and lived—at every age and every level.

• You are the Map-Maker: You promote Saratoga as a beacon for the rowing world through world-class regattas, programs and other events that bring the rowing community to our shores.

 
The Responsibility: The Buck Stops Here
While SRA operates through specialized branches, the Executive Director holds the ultimate weight of the organization’s success. You are accountable for the diligent pursuit of the following pillars:

• Visionary Ownership: There is a clear vision in place defined by the Board and this document. It is your primary responsibility to pursue that vision. This includes executing established goals and architecting novel initiatives—moving from ideation to implementation with the support of your staff.

• Accountability & Decision Making: Serving at the pleasure of, and accountable to, the board of directors, you make the decisions which institute the culture and mission of SRA; you hold the organization accountable to them. This standard of excellence applies equally to the professional staff and the entire membership body.

• Fiscal Viability: You are responsible for ensuring all initiatives fit within the operational budget. With the support of the board, administrative, and finance staff you ensure SRA remains fiscally viable and sustainable for future generations.

• Safety: You are responsible to create an environment which holds the Physical and Psychological Safety of the membership and staff as a top priority.

• Operational Oversight: While each program branch manages its day-to-day operations, you are responsible for staffing those branches. You ensure every program fits the club’s vision and hold each branch accountable to its specific goals and its relationship to the whole organization.

 
The Role: Coach of Coaches
You are the Chief Culture Officer. By leading our Program Heads (High School, Middle School, Adult, and Elite) along with the Facilities, Finance, and Regattas/Events Staff; you ensure that "The SRA Way" is reflected in every budget, every boat, and every race. You succeed when your leaders are strong, healthy, and purposefully aligned—creating a seamless brand experience that resonates from the front office to the finish line.
Key Pillars of Leadership:

• Empowering the Team: You act as a mentor and "coach of coaches," providing the clarity your team needs to thrive while fostering an "all-in" culture where everyone is vested in the organization’s collective health.

• Defining the Brand: You are the steward of the SRA promise. You ensure that whenever the letters "SRA" appear, members feel pride and the public sees a model of broad community engagement and integrity.

• Architecting the Future: You lead strategic planning with the Board and staff, challenging every corner of the club to evolve. You advance the ultimate vision for the organization, with the authority to ensure every strategic goal and staffing decision aligns with our core mission.

• Stewardship & Sustainability: You oversee the organizational engine. From collaborative budgeting to ensuring our facilities physically manifest our commitment to quality, you ensure SRA is seen as a "venue beaming with Joy and Excellence

 
Signature Initiative: The Onboarding Specialist
To ensure our vision, culture, and brand land with impact, the Executive Director personally champions the first-year experience for every new family. You are the architect of the "SRA Cohort"—the collective of every new member, from age 8 to 80 (and their family), who join our ranks each year.  This can be expanded to include every new team to race at SRA
Your mission is to ensure that within their first twelve months, every new family moves from "customer" to "community member."

• The Cohort Model: Just as a school year defines a student's journey, you will oversee the "Cohort of 2026." You are tasked with designing a full-year experience that sets the standard for the rest of their SRA career.

• The SRA Welcome: You lead with clear expectations and continual invitations. Through transparency and inspiration, you bridge the gap between "joining a club" and "finding a people."

• The "Belonging" Standard: Your success is measured by the feeling a new family has when they walk through our doors. Because of your oversight, they will know: “I am celebrated, I am invited, I am noticed, and I have found my people.”

• Core Values in Action: You ensure the first year is defined by joy, inclusivity, and "challenge by choice", creating a foundation of value and acceptance that lasts a lifetime.

 
The Foundation: Skills & Experience 
To move SRA from ideation to implementation, the Executive Director must possess the professional rigor to manage our growth and the specialized skills to sustain our mission:

• Executive Leadership: Management experience with a focus on organizational strategy and culture and a track record of translating high-level vision into operational reality.

• Strategic Fiscal Oversight: Experience managing $1M+ budgets and the ability to work collaboratively with finance professionals to ensure audit-readiness and ensuring that long-term fiscal health serves as the foundation for athlete and program excellence.

• Board Stewardship: Experience reporting to a Board of Directors, navigating non-profit governance, and managing organizational risk.

 
What We Are Looking For:
We want a leader who responds with a definitive YES to the following:

• The "Pitch-In" Mentality: You believe leadership is defined by service and are ready to lead a team that steps up whenever the organization needs it.

• The Visionary Eye: You can see the ten-year horizon while ensuring the current middle schoolers are having the best afternoon of their week.

• The Courage to Lead: You are comfortable being the final word on strategy and culture, prioritizing the long-term health of the mission above all else.

• The Heart for Community: You understand that we are in the business of building community through rowing.

 
We Consider the Following as Success: 

• Program Growth: An attractive and welcoming community grows

• Member Experience: Positive stories recounted on the drive home and around the dinner table matter

• Organizational Pride: The sight of the chevrons immediately brings a sense of connection.  My people.

• Fiscal Stability: To invest in community, have long term vision, and reduce barriers to entry, fiscal stability is critical

• Saratoga Community Recognition: Saratogians know there is a respected, vibrant, rowing community in town

• Rowing Community Recognition:  Rowers around the country recognize Saratoga Springs as a significant place